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Kaidou shifted, chasing the fading warmth, giving a little grunt of displeasure as he rubbed his cheek in the cooling divot. He cracked open an eye, yawning widely as he breathed in the smell of hay, horse, and mates in the early morning gloom as light slipped through the roof of the abandoned barn they met at. He gave a low rumble, watching Toki slip over the edge of the mess of hay and horse blankets that ended up serving them as a bed.
Oden sighed behind him, giving a little snuffling noise before pressing against his back, warm and his breathing slow and steady in sleep. Kaidou rolled over carefully, coaxing his lover against his chest, slowly stroking Oden’s loose hair as the man slumbered. He stretched, giving a little hiss of satisfaction as the action stretched healing bites and scratches left behind from last night.
They had met to exchange information, but it had escalated into something more. He yawned, feeling the pleasurable ache in his jaw, idly wondering if he remembered to call King on his Den Den Mushi to inform him of the change in plans. Kaidou scratched at his chest, giving a little grunt as his nails snagged the sensitive flesh of his nipple.
Did they inform the samurai? Kaidou paused, trying to recall if Toki or Oden had informed any of their staff that they would be staying out in the woods. Did they just assume when they had not returned that they were fucking? He snorted, bemused at the image of the barn being stormed by concerned retainers.
Toki would hate it. Kaidou shifted, pushing up on his arms, examining the bites on his skin. He couldn’t see the ones on his neck, but he knew they were there. Toki’s bites were already fading, turning sickly yellow-green in the pale light. Oden’s were still a dark purple-blue, a few scabbing over where his blunt teeth had pierced through his skin. He prodded the worst of the bruising, giving a little hiss at the spark of pain. Kaidou could feel a trace of foreign Haki, warm and bright like sunshine, keeping his healing at bay.
“Leave it be,” Oden muttered, looking up blurrily, hair a loose mass of waves as he covered the bruise with his hands. He rumbled, black eyes smug as he traced the indentation of his teeth on Kaidou’s skin. “I did a number on you,” he said, pleased.
“You are a cheat,” Kaidou grumbled, watching his lover trace the marks he left. “I am going to have to button up my shirt.” He traced down Oden’s near flawless skin, feeling the little blemishes left as his Haki worked on rapidly healing the array of marks they had given him. They wanted to bite down, leave a mark of fangs into the hard muscles, the dragon and him of one mind that their mates should carry their marks to warn off contenders. Kaidou stuffed it down, restraining himself. We don’t have the time.
“Where the fuck did I put my shirt?” he questioned, sat up, and picked a strand of loose hay from his hair. He flicked it away, and hastily caught his shirt before it could slap him in the face. Kaidou missed catching his pants, giving a slight grunt as it smacked into his chest before dropping onto Oden, his lover giving a startled wheeze of laughter as the fabric covered him.
“Thank you, Toki,” Kaidou called down to the diminutive woman as she started to bundle up Oden’s kimono. He shrugged on his shirt, buttoning it closed and snickering as she pitched the fabric bundle into Oden’s face, catching him by surprise. “Did you inform anyone you were staying out?” he asked, gently pushing Oden off him and sliding down the pile of hay and blankets. He pulled on his pants, glancing around to see where he had tossed his boots.
“We made it rather clear they were not to follow us.” Toki swung herself up on the hay bale, feet dangling as she finger combed her hair, attempting to control the frizz. “Try towards the back,” she suggested, her eyes not leaving his form, appreciative. “Surprised you are covering up your bites, are you ashamed of us?” she teased.
“Never, but I also don’t want to be interrogated.” Kaidou made a face, tugging his boots out of the hay. He turned them upside down, shaking them out before tugging them on. He laced them up, before falling back into the bale, scooping Toki up to set her on his chest, fingers lacing behind her to support her as she laughed. Her kimono was loose, exposing her shoulders and neck, ringed with bite marks and bruises. He ran his thumb over the indentations, giving a lazy rumble of satisfaction. “Will you cover these up?” he questioned.
“I have to, I look like I’ve been mauled by an animal,” Toki snorted, lips twitching in a rueful smile. “It is going to take days for them to fade.” She shifted, making room for Oden as he climbed up and joined her.
Kaidou shifted, content to have both his lovers close. He hummed, thumbing away a drop of blood. “You could claim Oden got a bit rambunctious,” he drawled, pressing carefully against the scabbing wound. “Considering the tales of Oden’s wild past, I’m certain it would be believable.”
“Excuse me? I have not done anything considered mauling in…well,” Oden trailed off, looking at Toki, eyes soft and smug before giving a hum. “Well, I did do that,” he said, sounding rather pleased with himself. “I can’t claim to be feral. No one would believe it.”
Kaidou hmmed, stroking the marks, counting the sharp punctures. “It certainly looks like we were a bit feral last night.” It was conspicuous. Something they couldn’t afford. “I’ve heard so much of your wild youth, I don’t know why you are protesting using it.”
“It isn’t the same… have you not met a feral alpha before?” Oden questioned, sprawling out on Kaidou’s chest, tugging his wife close to him, nuzzling into the crook of her neck.
“Can’t say I have,” Kaidou muttered, considering back over the years. “What are we then?” he questioned, motioning between them. “Considering that we are competitive mauling each other.”
“It is a security thing,” Toki said, resting her head on her arms. “We don’t share a den, or mating marks, so we feel more of a drive to claim each other. It will settle once we handle Orochi.”
“Hnn,” Kaidou chewed the information over for a brief moment before moving on. “Meet again next month’s new moon?” he questioned, running a hand through his hair and plucking out the Den Den Mushi half asleep in his locs. He tapped it carefully, waking it up. “King, if you would,” he addressed it, listening to it ring as it worked on connecting.
“Hai, possibly earlier depending on the storm season,” Oden agreed, eyes lingering on Kaidou’s lips. “Going to be late for my adoring fans if I linger too much.” He lunged forward, all fluid muscle and sun touched skin, pressing a passionate, skilled kiss against Kaidou’s lips and bit down, drawing blood.
Kaidou hissed, eyes smoldering in desire and irritation as he swiped at his partner as Oden escaped his grasp, his eyes bright in glee. “You little-”
“A reminder till we meet again,” Oden called, sliding down. “Toki, beloved, we’ve got to go.”
Toki laughed, soft and pleasant. “You are not going to get the last bite, this time.” She pressed a soft kiss against his wounded lip. “If the storms allow it, bring Yamato with you. Hiyori misses her playmate.” She slid down, following her husband.
Kaidou grumbled, flopping back on the pile. He licked the bite, listening to the purr of the snail and the shuffling of his partners as they snuck out. A kr-chunk sounded and it wasn’t King’s voice coming out over the snail, but his brats excitable and loud.
“Dad! Are you coming home?” Yamato’s voice was loud and clear and eager. “You said we are going to go out,” he whined.
“Where’s King?” Kaidou asked, sliding off the pile and headed out the doors. “No, where is Thea, she was supposed to be watching you so King could take a break.”
“I am, Yams wanted to bring our second in command breakfast that he made himself,” Thea replied. “And then he decided to snail-nap the Den Den so King could continue sleeping.”
“Mmhm,” Kaidou drawled, feeling pity for his second in command. He wondered if King was faking sleep, he was usually up well before now. “I remembered, why don’t you give the snail back and go get ready for the day,” he said, trying to distract his son from feeding a burnt concoction to his second. “I’ll be home in an hour or so.”
“I am ready!”
“Are you dressed?” Kaidou asked, blinking in the dim light and stretched out.
“Yes!”
“Do you have shoes on?” Kaidou asked.
“Do I need them?” Yamato whined.
“Yes, go and get your shoes.” Kaidou stretched out, tugging the dragon forward and grunted at the feel of scales covering his body as it stretched out and lengthened. He shook himself, yawning widely as his form settled, feeling like a good stretch. He jumped forward, clouds forming under his feet as he lifted up heading home.
~ ~ ~
Kaidou stretched out, the loops of his body sprawled against the warm golden sand. He ground his shoulder into the sand, trying to relieve the itch. His tongue lolled out of his mouth, the sun warm against the scales of his belly, his tail twitching back and forth as he squirmed against the heated grains trying to relieve the irritation in his back.
He was so fucking itchy, and the sand was perfectly warm beneath him, heat soaking through his uncomfortable scales. The grains polished his hide, removing dead keratin and loosening cracked and loose plates.
He looked ridiculous but it felt so good. Kaidou rolled over, shaking himself, his scales flaring out before flattening down. He grumbled, bending in on himself to tug at a stubborn patch between his shoulders with his teeth, tugging them out. It hurt momentarily, a small sting, but the irritating itch was soothed. He licked the tiny bead of blood welling up from the patch, grooming himself until they were both satisfied and slightly sore.
Kaidou shifted, transforming a bit stiffly from dragon to human. His shoulders were a bit stiff and he could feel tacky patches where his skin oozed a bit. Scales lay discarded in the sand, like bright blue pieces of glass. He yawned, feeling the ache in his jaw as he looked around at the mess his sandbath had loosened up.
He flopped down into the hot sands on his belly, picking up one of his shed scales and held it up to the light. It glowed a brilliant cool blue, transparent in a few places where it had worn thin.
He turned it around his knuckles, thoughtful. The scale was in decent shape; the core was intact giving it a sturdiness he would need if he cared to carve it. It had been a while since he had shaped or even designed something from his scales.
The Thorns all had an item to display their rank and privileges, signet stamps were most common, but Thea had a set of blades with his scales set in the hilts, and Yarrow had a baton, scales studding down the side.
Weapons wouldn’t be fitting for either of them. Oden would appreciate it but Kaidou wanted something that they both could wear daily. He picked up a few more scales, setting them in his palm. An armlet for Oden, something geometrically patterned. Toki was trickier, a pair of earrings, or even some sort of hair ornament. Oden’s hair decorated with his scales flashed in his mind, the blue would glow amidst the inky blackness.
He was going to need more than a paltry handful. Kaidou pushed himself up, gathering up his scales, stuffing them in his pockets until the beach was mainly cleared. He dusted off his hands, considering what he would need.
Gold or silver could be obtained by melted down coins, or other spoils. Leather, maybe, or black velvet, could be found in the treasury. He would have to talk to Yarrow, and perhaps raid Tenzen’s studio for the other’s paper and brushes.
He had a plan, and supplies, now to just settle on a design that was actually worthy of his partners.
~ ~ ~
Toki’s hair was a waterfall of silky pale green under his thick fingers. Kaidou worked slowly, twisting the strands around his fingers as he carefully worked on braiding it. He had been practicing, mostly on his brat when Yamato could hold still enough to let him finish. He reached down picking one of the beads, slipping it in place.
He chuffed, pleased at the little glimpses of blue in her hair. He could smell their scents mingling, each bead containing pieces of his scales and venom resin, making his claim clear against any other challengers.
It was calming on his instincts. He finished the braid, tying it off and starting a third.
“Can I open my eyes?” Toki questioned.
“Not yet,” Kaidou muttered, focusing on the movement. “Let me finish.” He slipped another bead into her hair. “After this you have to help me corner Oden.”
“I do not believe you need my help,” she mused. “But I will join you, because I am curious.”
“You just want to watch me wrestle him into the tatami mats,” Kaidou replied, slipping more beads into the silky hair.
“Of course, why wouldn’t I want to watch two muscular men I love grappling each other bare chested,” Toki stated, giving a little wiggle of delight. “I do believe he is out on the ground, not indoors.”
Kaidou snorted, finishing the braid and carefully gathered them together, twisting them up into a bun at the base of her neck and slipped in a pin to keep it in place. He picked up the large clasp, securing it in place, fingers tracing the decorative butterfly, long shards of his scales glinting in the pale light. “Alright, you can look.”
“Ooh,” Toki proclaimed, leaning in close to the mirror, carefully tilting her head to admire the jewelry. She reached up, following the patterns on the butterflies’ wings. “They are beautiful. Is this a proposal?” She asked, lips quirking up into a secretive smile. “We are rather overdue for one.”
“Not this again,” Kaidou grumbled, leaning back. “Stomping out Orochi’s remaining forces should be priority.” He shook his head, pausing, thoughtful. “It is meant to keep me from biting you as often, since you keep wearing high collars like a tease.” It was a claim, but his close pack has similar items. “Pack proposal maybe… we haven’t talked about how we want to handle our packs.”
“True, but that can wait. I appreciate the thought put into it and the fact it should keep you from mauling me.” Toki leaned against him, tipping her head back against his chest. “Not that I don’t enjoy a bit of biting.”
“When you are the one doing it,” Kaidou said, lips twitching in amusement.
Toki laughed. “Of course, but I have to bite you more frequently to even leave a lasting impression, and it fades within the hour.” She sighed, before pushing against him, standing up and smoothing out her kimono. “Come along, I am curious how Oden will react.” She set a hand against his.
Kaidou snorted, scooped her up and tossed her gently over his shoulder. “Your priorities are a bit skewed.” He set a hand over her back, supporting her as he stood.
“My priorities are perfectly aligned,” Toki proclaimed, smacking him once before righting herself, tucking her knees in as she leaned against him. “Oden should be on the practice grounds with the men.”
“Ugh, Kin’emon?” Kaidou grimaced, walking through the halls.
“I don’t know why you are so against him,” Toki said, bemused. “You seem to tolerate the rest, well enough.”
“Except Kanjuro,” Kaidou stated, nose wrinkling in disgust. “The rest are slightly irritating. Those two are just grating.” He stepped out, breathing deep, the dragon rising to the forefront of his mind as he sorted through the smells, until he caught the scent of hinoki and sunlight. His pupils slanted, neck shifting to narrow in on Oden position. “Hold on tight.”
Toki giggled, gripping him tightly.
Kaidou stretched out, jumping from the deck and landed onto the gravel surrounding the estate. He gripped Toki tight, taking off in a fast lopping run down towards the training ground. He grinned catching sight of Oden and locked in, racing full speed at him. He reached out, pulling him close, dipping him into a smooth bow and slipped the finished bracelet onto his arm. Kaidou grinned down at him, his thumb running over the scales set into the dark leather. “Hey.”
Oden flushed slightly over his cheeks; face slacked in surprise before gathering himself. “What is this about?” He questioned, gathering himself.
“Kaidou is proposing to us,” Toki replied, smug and so sure of herself.
“Toki,” Kaidou groaned, and sighed as he heard ‘About time,’ coming from the peanut gallery watching them. “Pack proposal, pack proposal at most. Not a wedding.”
“Don’t you want to marry us?” Oden questioned.
“I just think we have to finish stomping out Orochi’s followers before we think about marrying,” Kaidou stated, looking between them before sighing. “We’ll marry after that.”
“Good, I’ll hold you to that promise,” Toki said, placing a soft kiss against his cheek.